Prosecutor to seek life for Jerry Lewis stalker

Wednesday, May 10, 2000 | 10:56 a.m.

The prosecutor in the case of the stalker of Jerry Lewis said today she will seek to have Gary Benson spend the rest of his life in prison if he is convicted of a pending allegation of aggravated stalking of the entertainer.

Deputy District Attorney Abbi Silver said that if Benson is convicted it will be his third felony conviction and she will ask the judge to deem that Benson is a habitual criminal, which carries a life prison term.

Benson, 56, a resident of Sheridan, Wyo., was arrested by the FBI Thursday in Wyoming. On April 11 Lewis received a letter at his Las Vegas home that read, "Dear Jerry, your dead," the FBI said, noting the letter was signed, "Your friend, Gary Benson."

Benson spent more than four years in prison for a conviction of stalking Lewis in the 1990s. He has waived extradition and will be returned to Las Vegas.

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